by personal | Jun 4, 2011 | Updates
I am on target with my weight. I currently weigh 93kg. 2 weeks ago I weighed 96 kg, so I have I lost 3kg which equates to around 6.6 lbs. My target mark is to weigh in at 85kg and according to my BMI I would be well within my weight bracket and I would be considered "normal weight" which means not underweight nor overweight.
I have been getting much fitter over the 2 weeks I have been exercising and eating more healthily. For starters I eat pancakes every few days in the morning and an apple. I then just drink a lot of water. Then for lunch I have a salad bowl with spaghetti sprinkled with light amounts of cheese and other stuff. The tartar sauce (Or whatever sauce it is) makes the salad for me eatable, and makes it especially more delicious mixed in with the spaghetti.
Prior to eating lunch, I go out and do some runs around the track. I don't like to pace myself at my current level of fitness as I know I can do better. So I usually push myself to jog/run a little faster to get my heart pumping. But if I want to pace myself, I can go on for quite a long time without stopping. Whereas when I started 2 weeks ago, I couldn't even run around the running track once without being extremely tired. Today I paced myself and ran around the track over 15 times non-stop. I didn't run or job extremely fast like I used to, but like I said I just paced myself and I just kept going. I guess what motivated me was the fact that there were these two older people running around who looked around their 40's or late 40's. They were also doing well, considering the 30 degree heat, so I didn't want to stop until they did. In the end we actually all stopped at the same time. But I probably could have done more if they had kept going. 😀 I guess they were my motivation to keep going.
I'm just glad that I've lost 6.6 lbs which is nearly half a stone. So I'm quite proud of that. Though it seems like this is taking a long time, I'm eating all the healthy foods and making sure I get the right stuff to keep me going.
Considering that I am signing up to my universities gym, I hope to do some arm muscle exercises when I get there to increase the size of my arms. Then when I look nice enough I might take up swimming. Onwards we go! 🙂
by personal | May 27, 2011 | Updates
Man did I sweat like a mad man today, for the 2nd day I ran in 30 degree weather and the weather in Taiwan is very humid, which makes it harder to breath sort of as the air is thicker and much warmer. Or at least it feels thicker but it is definitely warmer and especially when you are heating up with running in that sort of weather, breathing in hot/warm air doesn't help in keeping you going.
I guess I'll just go later on to the running track when its a little less heated. I had some nice spaghetti with a few vegetables mixed in with it that I bought from Family Mart and a large bottle of water. 😀
I did my 4 laps around the running track and 20 sit-ups and I actually did 20 press-ups in the morning too. (Though I was supposed to do that 8 hours ago, not in the morning.)
I also found some great tips on losing weight on Yahoo Answers! (Yeah not the best source for information, but if the content is good then…):
1. If what you are eating has less than 1 carb, count it as 1 carb just to be sure.
2. Totally avoid caffeine at least for the first two weeks on the program.
Me: If there is one thing I've done, I have totally avoided any type of caffeine. I've just drunk water and I have sinned a little by taking a sip of some lemonade. But never that much. But water is my main drink now. I remember I used to drink cola in England all the time. That was when I was in fact in shape. But I never really slimmed down. If I had stopped, I probably would have been even fitter than I used to be.
3. Drink a MINIMUM of 8 glasses of plain water or seltzer daily.
Me: As said, I've been drinking water all the time. I constantly drink it. I don't drink too much, but I do drink quite a bit. Especially in weather where it is as hot as it now. Water is a must.
4. Don't weigh yourself more than once a week
Me: I guess I understand this. You don't want to be too disappointed if you lose more weight in one day than the other. So its best to just leave it on a weekly basis. Then you realize you have actually lost more weight than you thought.
5. Take starting measurements as well as weight – sometimes you'll lose inches before pounds
Me: I have been weighing myself and I've lost around 18 pounds, I've already lost 3 pounds, so just 15-16 to go. That would according to a BMI calculator put me at 23.7 BMI, normal weight would be from 18.5–24.9. So in regards to being in shape, that would be well within the boundaries.
6. Avoid any type of "low carb" sweetener for the first two weeks
7. Don't compare your loss to someone else's – this is a YMMV thing (your milage may vary)
Me: I guess I like to do this all the time. Compare myself with others an state why I'm not losing that much weight or why I can't run as far as some people on the running track. But my motivation was the fact that I was a few years ago, quite active in running and I used to be like that. So I know I can get it back and will. That is my motivation I've found.
8. Stalls are common around the third week so don't panic.
Me: The only time I have failed on my diet is when I ate 5 pizzas. But I made sure I ran it all off. I went running round the track 8 times and around the park 7 times. In that day I ran a total of 12 times around the track and drank plenty of water.
9. If you follow your plan to the T and don't lose, consider Candida as a possibility and avoid vinegar, cheese, mushrooms and any other fermented food
Me: Can't say I eat any of that. Though I sometimes will eat cheese in a nice sandwich, but I don't think if you eat a little bit of it, it will keep you of course in losing weight. I just believe if you keep the balance between eating food you require to exercise you require to lose weight then that is where the balance strikes.
10. Have bloodwork done before starting so you have a comparison.
Me: Not sure why this is even a suggestion. If you want to lose weight good, but I think it is over the top to go in for "blood work" just to lose some weight. Perhaps if you are losing a lot then I can see the need. I'm trying to lose around 1 stone. If I do that, then I'll be in-line and in-weight according to my BMI. It can be done.
Whatever the case I am slowly losing weight. That is the best way after reading a lot of comments and just researching on the net. Hopefully I can make it and feel proud to post my newly shaped body of the future.
by personal | May 26, 2011 | Updates
That used to be me. I'm quite jealous as one of the guys round the running track today was constantly running without stopping. Admittedly I could only handle 3 runs without stopping around the track. This guy was relentless. He kept going, going and going. Then I looked at myself and thought, one day that will be me. Once I reach that fitness level, I think I will be happy with myself. I just want to be able to run round a track constantly and only my breath stopping me from running. It seems that legs start to waiver if I run too much. I guess I need to lose weight in this area. But when I was around 16, I could run for miles without stopping. I was the relentless guy. I used to run 4 miles around my school track most of the time especially so in P.E. I could always lap around the group in my class and leave them behind. I could literally run as opposed to jog the whole way round.
Today on this date, I am pathetic. I can do 3 to maybe 4 runs without stopping. This is significant however as yesterday I could only achieve 2 runs around the track without stopping. I really pushed myself for the 3rd round but for the fourth, I just tried sprinting, then stopped half-way.
Anyways I'm happy with what I have done today. I ran around the track this afternoon 4 times and earlier in the day I ran round 7 times (In intervals), so 11 runs around the track in a day is quite a considerable amount for a beginner like myself. (Though I really used to be an expert) – I just need to get my fitness back and maybe that will self-motivate me if I have the power.
I guess I was quite disappointed, but I've got to look away from the past and look into the future. But I always, always remind myself, if I had not broken my leg years ago, I probably would have had a six pack, won my school's cross country race and would have had different views on life.
Whatever the case, bring on the future. 🙂
by personal | May 25, 2011 | Updates
My new goal in life right now to get back on track is to learn Chinese. That is my primary objective. However my smaller objectives which usually get pushed to the side are:
Getting fit
There was one point in my life where I was extremely fit, I could go for miles without stopping at a good fast pace and I could do this without struggling much. Especially so in the previous cross country run’s my school hosted. I usually came 3rd place, but you have to remember I was up against bigger guys in year 11. So the race was kind of unfair. But I had people in my class who I would say that were also quite fit. But they didn’t have the stamina. They may have been faster, but they would stop running after a certain period. I guess I had that determination back then to keep going. So I want my old self back and my aim is to go to the running truck, and do the following:
- Run 4 times around the running truck in 30º degree weather. Though I am not using the weather as an excuse, but I could probably do a damn lot more if the weather in Taiwan was not so hot.
- 10-20 press-ups per night.
- 20 sit-ups in the day.
- Generally not eat fatty foods.
Though I did sin today and I ate 5 pieces of pizza. When it comes to pizza I cannot hold myself. If it was McDonalds, KFC or some other fast food restaurant food, I would not have touched it. But pizza is one of my most favorite foods. Though if someone does bring back pizza I will not fall into temptation again. That is a guarantee. – So that is the last time I will be touching pizza.
Generally I’m going to eating less.
My current weight as it stands is 96 kg. I am overweight. Though you really can’t see it as my fat is spread around, but will admit I do have a little bit of a belly and horrible love handles which I would love to get rid off. Though when I look at pictures of myself, I actually look quite athletic. But when I take my shirt of that is where there is a disaster. You can see my fat for miles, lets just say.
Whatever the case, I’m hoping to lose all of it. Well of course not all of it, but most.
I am considered overweight for my height. I am 6’0″ and I have a BMI of 26.2. If I go jogging for half an hour a day I can burn 336.96 calories which is 2358.72 calories per week. Though once I become fit, I would like to aim for 1 hour of jogging per day. I really need to buy a stopwatch just to time myself and keep myself on track. Unfortunately I live in Taiwan and I do not know of any place to buy a stop watch. So I guess I’ll have to use a phone or something. Though a stopwatch would be nice.
by personal | May 25, 2011 | Updates
I was around 17 when I broke my leg. I could hold my own when I used to run before I broke my leg. I wasn't fast at running, but I could run for miles without stopping. I was young, fit and very active. Then when playing football school, I had the ball as usual and a guy who was around the age of 18 slide tackled me and hit my shin. It broke my leg in two places. After that the school temporarily banned football from being played for a couple months. Basketball came the thing. Of course I wasn't attending school, I was having my leg tendered by several doctors and nurses who broke my leg back into the right position then operated by placing a steel frame around my leg and eventually I found out I had a titanium nail in my leg. (Still even today)
I'm not sure I can say it ruined my life, but in a way it kind of did. Would my life be different today if I was still healthy and active, would I have made better decisions? Or would I be as depressed as I am today. I don't know what the outcome would have been. But you just imagine sometimes and think, what if? What if decisions and actions in life were changed slightly, would it totally change your life?
I remember when I was 16, I knew nothing about computers, well in the sense I wasn't really that interested. My dream was to become a athlete of some sort, whether that be a footballer or something to do with sports. Then when I broke my leg, I had a laptop with me, I was in bed constantly for 6 months. I missed the cross-country run my school was having, I was pitted as first place after the Year 11's left school. – As my class had stepped up onward a year to Year 10. I missed all that and most importantly I lost my stamina, fitness and goal to become some sort of sportsman.
I guess I was thinking about this as I was struggling in my local park in Taiwan to complete a lap around a running track, just jogging. I remembered I could easily run that and 10 times more when I was around 16. It kind of broke my heart today just looking back and that and seeing what had gained in return for the loss of my fitness. I gained these qualities in my opinion:
- The ability to touch type on my computer. As I said, I wasn't that interested in computers. I had messed around with computers in 1998, when my Dad bought a £900 computer which you would probably find in a scrap yard today. With this ability I gained high scores in college as I could type fast, do it very well and eloquently with the help of spell check and the nifty synonym tool in Microsoft Word. (I could make my work sound professional)
- Knowledge of the internet and how to setup websites and how they work. I bought domain names, knew how to search engine optimize (SEO) and gained knowledge in the web hosting sector running several free and paid web hosts.
- Understanding of others views through the internet. I used to do a lot of forum debating. It made me learn and understand how to debate and understand others views.
-
So what did I lose?
Okay, so I understand I lost my fitness and in return I got technology and sort of became a nerd. Well not a nerd really. Since I don't act like a total freak around technology, but most of my days I spend around my computer.
But there is another aspect that I lost. It was my social ability. I spent 6 months in a bed, no school, education or anything like that. I had friends come around after school, but that isn't the same. I also used to have a really hot best friend (Yes, she is a girl), she used to come round and lay next to me while using my laptop. I used to have a crush on her mere beauty, smell and personality. She had it all, what a crazy person she was and what a crazy person I was for not asking her out ONCE.
She moved to another school, a couple years later however and I never really spoke to her again, she became a better friend with my sister though. I guess that was a day and age when I felt like I was worth something and when my family were totally secure.
I had no worries or insecurities. In school, it was purely about image and just looking good. If there is still something that I have wrong in me today is the fact that I cannot talk to girls in a way to ask them out. I am confident when I'm drunk and I will ask a girl to go for more than a date, but that is because I'm freaking drunk, I have an excuse as to why I asked and if it goes wrong, heck I'm fucking drunk, I didn't know I asked. :p But when I'm sober, I'm less confident, less appealing and a lesser person. A nobody in the crowd.
So I guess I loss a bit of my social mobility. I guess when I was younger I could have gone out more. But to be honest, I was very manipulated about the concern of having an image in school. I used to wear clothes purely on the basis I didn't want to be naked. But others would where clothes just for the image. I turned into the same monster and started wearing chav clothes. Basically chavs are linked to being douche bags or pretend-hard men, even though that idea is silly, but the ideal in England has changed to people wearing gangsta clothes nowadays. Though you still see a lot of chavs around on a street corner, thinking they own the place. But I guess I was bought into the idea, that to be cool, you would have to wear these clothes. That ideal didn't last long as I took a long stare at myself and thought, "what a fool that guy is". So I wore the mixture of gansgta (Baggy hoodies or big T-shirts) and just normal jeans or shorts. It had an advantage to the fact it was more comfortable to wear and it actually looked good.
But the trade off between what I loss and gained, I'm not sure if it were reversed and I was still very fit, would much have changed?
